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- Dynamic Sewer Control
Robust, intelligent software for sewer network control. Minimize overflows, work smarter and protect the wastewater treatment plant with real-time dynamic control.
Dynamic sewer control
The Challenge
- Everyday local operating rules at pumping stations, storages, and gates work but decisions cascade downstream
- Decision made at one site can unintentionally create inefficiencies downstream
- Inefficiencies become more pronounced during critical or wet weather events resulting in backups, surcharging, overflows, etc.
The Vision
- Let all the pumping stations communicate with one another
- Coordinate the pumping stations, storage, and gates to work together
- Use existing capacity and reduce cascading effects
This animation shows how this Grundfos innovation works. How dynamic sewer control reduces overflows.
The Challenge: Operating Sewer Systems in Everyday and Extreme Conditions
Many wastewater utilities operate sewer systems where pumps, storage basins, gates, and the treatment plant are operating in unison. Under normal, dry weather, conditions, these systems generally work well. Simple, local control rules are usually sufficient to move wastewater through the network and maintain daily operations.
Even so, dry weather operations often involve cascading of pumps and wet wells. Control decisions made at one location can unintentionally create inefficiencies downstream, leading to frequent cycling of pumps, higher operator involvement and increased failure rates.
During wet weather, the above issues become far more pronounced. Storage fills unevenly; failures escalate quickly, and operators must perform manual interventions under time pressure. With aging infrastructure and more intense rainfall, the operational risks continue to grow—while budgets and capacity for new construction remain constrained.
This raises a key question: how can utilities operate their sewage system more smoothly on a daily basis while staying in control during critical events — using the assets they already have?
This is the vision behind the Grundfos innovation in dynamic sewer control. By coordinating how pumps, storage and gates work together across the system, utilities can make better use of existing capacity, reduce cascading effects, gain valuable response time during wet-weather, and achieve immediate visibility into system performance — also in extreme conditions.
Tested in lab - Proven in Europe
Dynamic sewer control
The dynamic sewer control solution has been tested in the Grundfos Innovation Lab and implemented in several European municipalities, demonstrating its practical effectiveness in real-world applications.
Implementation of this Grundfos solution has significantly reduced sewage overflows, improved public health and environmental conditions.
Dynamic sewer control minimising overflows In Rheinfelden, Switzerland
The Swiss village of Rheinfelden has been using Dynamic Sewer Control to automatically optimise its rainwater storage tanks during thunderstorms. Thereby, it has minimised combined sewer overflows, which has been better for the community and better for the environment.
Grundfos’ innovative dynamic sewer control solution is tested in our lab
To verify the effectiveness of our dynamic control solution, we have rigorously tested it in laboratory conditions using a scaled-down wastewater network.
Robust, intelligent software for sewer network control
Grundfos is seeking up to five U.S. utilities to join an exclusive Early Access Program for a proven dynamic, software-based, sewer network management solution.
We know every customer is unique, and so are their needs.
That is why this dynamic sewer control solution is configurable, designed to adapt to your specific requirements.
Turning your sewer network into a dynamically controlled system
Dynamic Sewer Control is implemented through a structured, lowrisk process that builds on your existing sewer network and operational setup to deliver tangible benefits. The first step is selecting a focus area — a hydraulically dependent part of the network where Dynamic Sewer Control can deliver clear operational value.
For the selected area, data from SCADA, GIS, sensors, and existing hydraulic models is collected to build a virtual representation of the system. Then, conventional local control is compared with coordinated, systemwide control to quantify improvements in storage utilization, pumping efficiency, operator response time, and operational resilience.
This virtual assessment allows utilities to understand the impact and feasibility before any changes are made in the field. Once these benefits are clear and validated, Dynamic Sewer Control is prepared for deployment. Control strategies are coordinated with existing PLCs and introduced gradually, operating safely alongside current control logic.
As value is established, the implementation can be expanded beyond the initial focus area. The result is a controlled transition from static to dynamic operation — delivering transparency, reduced risk and measurable value without physical infrastructure expansion.
1. Collect data
- Install the read-only version of Dynamic Sewer Control
- Gather the network set-up (sensors, pumps/valves, structures) and collect all relevant data from available data sources like: GIS, SCADA and SWMM models
- Build a virtual sewer network
2. Evaluate benefits
- Compare scenarios with static control vs dynamic control
- Prepare dynamic sewer control for deployment
- Create “Impact & Feasibility Report”
3. Deployed Dynamic Sewer Control
- Coordinate with customer to prepare SCADA and PLC changes
- Deploy Dynamic Sewer Control
- Control the network dynamically
Grundfos Dynamic Sewer Control implementation
Watch how Dynamic Sewer Control is implemented in practice — beginning with a defined focus area and gradually expanding across the network.
Want to learn more?
Fill out the form or contact our chief entrepreneur Chengzi if you want to know more or want to be a part of the Early Access Program:
Phone: (011-45) 5232-5238
E-mail: cchew@grundfos.com
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